Bachelor of Education (Early Years)

2020 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2020 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year

2020 course information

Award granted

Bachelor of Education (Early Years)

Course Map

These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2020.

Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.

Campus
  • Burwood (Melbourne)
  • Cloud (Online) with compulsory online learning and face to face cloud conferences (2 per trimester)

(For students who commenced T1 2020 or prior only)

Duration

4 years full-time, 3 year fast-track or part-time equivalent#

CRICOS course code093571F Burwood (Melbourne)
Deakin course codeE330
Approval statusThis course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.

# Students with a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care are able to complete the course in 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent.

The final intake to this course was in Trimester 1 2020.

This course version is for continuing students only

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Deakin’s Bachelor of Education (Early Years) allows you to teach young children in early childhood and primary school settings. With professional experience opportunities and the option to choose from a range of curriculum areas, you’ll graduate with a qualification that’s in high demand, meeting the significant growth of the Australian early childhood education sector. 

Are you interested in an exciting and rewarding career teaching children? 

Deakin’s dual accredited early years degree opens up a range of career opportunities, spanning the early childhood and primary education sectors. Studies focus on contemporary issues in children’s learning and development, curriculum theories and pedagogies, discipline knowledge and the changing work context within early childhood and primary education.

Early years teaching specialisations include:

  • Aboriginal knowledge and experiences
  • arts education
  • promoting equity, social justice and inclusivity.

Primary teaching specialisations include:

  • language and literacy
  • science.

The Professional Experience Program is a key part of every Deakin teaching student’s course experience. Working with more than 1400 schools across Australia, we’ll arrange at least 115 days of placements for you in schools where you’ll learn from experienced teachers.

Students also have access to specialised teaching spaces on campus to prepare for teaching.

Give your studies a different perspective and take part in our Global Education Program. Learn about Aboriginal culture while teaching in remote communities in the Northern Territory, or head to countries including Chile, Nepal or Vanuatu and learn about intercultural education.

Deakin maintains close links with the education sector to ensure our courses are developed and reviewed with industry and professional input. You’ll be taught by staff members who have industry experience and who are recognised as leaders and innovators in their fields. This means you can be confident that what you learn at Deakin will be relevant to your future teaching career.

Choose to study at our award-winning Cloud Campus and have the additional flexibility to balance work, life and study. Studying online is collaborative and engaging, while still allowing you to complete your studies when and where it suits you.

Before beginning your degree, prospective teaching students need to successfully complete the CASPer test – an online, video scenario-based test that lets you demonstrate your suitability for a teaching career.

Start your journey to becoming an early years teacher with a Deakin degree and learn how you can change the lives of others.

Professional recognition

This course is approved by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACEQA) as an early childhood teaching qualification in Australia.

It is also accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) for the purposes of teacher registration in Victoria. Students are eligible to apply for registration with VIT upon successful completion of this degree.

Career opportunities

There’s an increasing demand for qualified early childhood teachers, with a 22% projected employment growth expected in the sector, to 2023.

Graduates are qualified to work in early childhood settings as early childhood teachers, educational leaders, coordinators or advisers. They are also qualified to work as a primary teacher working across all year levels from foundation through to grade 6.

Early years graduates may also find careers within:

  • community services
  • early childhood facilities
  • education organisations
  • government agencies
  • not-for-profit organisations.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities

Acquire broad and coherent body of knowledge of education principles and practice, and in depth theoretical and applied knowledge of early childhood that incorporates early childhood and primary education.

Communication

Use and engage effectively interpersonal communication skills (oral, written, digital and nonverbal) to convey knowledge and ideas with diverse individuals and groups (such as children, families, parents and caregivers, colleagues and other professionals, community organisations) to enhance children’s learning and wellbeing.

Digital literacy

Employ a range of technologies to collect, analyse, synthesise and evaluate and disseminate information for the purposes of teaching and learning in a rapidly changing global environment.

Critical thinking

Critically engage with and analyse contemporary issues and research in early years education and changing societal contexts at local, national and global scales, and be able to make informed judgements relating to teaching and learning.

Problem solving

Use critical reflection and analytical skills to determine creative, innovative and authentic solutions to real-life and complex problems encountered in teaching and learning and adapt these solutions to diverse contexts, communities and learners.

Self-management

Work autonomously and responsibly in early childhood and primary school contexts, drawing on knowledge and skills of teaching and learning and demonstrate abilities and dispositions underpinning lifelong learning and personal attributes that enable a positive contribution to society including critical thinking, creative and problem solving skills.

Teamwork

Work, advocate, and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals, families and members of the wider community who share responsibility for the learning and wellbeing of young children.

Global citizenship

Demonstrate understandings of the diversity of Australian society and the influences on development of culture, family contexts, gender and disability and the influences of these on the education and care of children.

Adapt knowledge and skills to culturally and socially diverse contexts and communities.

Approved by Faculty Board June 2014

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Education (Early Years), students must complete 32 credit points comprising:

  • 29 credit points of core units;
  • 1 credit point of Early Years Teaching Specialisation in one of either: i) Promoting Equity, Social Justice and Inclusivity; ii) Arts Education; or iii) Aboriginal Knowledge and Experiences
  • 2 credit points of Primary Teaching Specialisation in either: i) Science; or ii) Language and Literacy
  • AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

This course includes 115 days of supervised professional experience, and students must successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment.

Students are also required to complete below two zero (0) credit point units ELN010 and ELN011 as part of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) in order to graduate from their course.

Course structure

Year 1

ELN010Australian Literacy Test (zero (0) credit points)

ELN011Australian Numeracy Test (zero (0) credit points)

ECE110Child Development 1

ECE111Curriculum 1: Pedagogies and Play

ECE112Curriculum 2: Planning and Assessment for Teaching and Learning

ECP128Professional Knowledge (0-2 Years)

ECE130Partnerships with Families and Communities

ECE120Contemporary Perspectives of Education

ECE116Promoting Health, Wellbeing and Nutrition

ECE140Creative Arts 1: Young Children and the Arts

Course structure

Primary Teaching Specialisations

Select one of the following two specialisations:

Science

SLE209Science and Society

ECE345Integrated Science and Technology Education

Language and Literacy

ALL153Literature for Children and Young Adults

ECL351Diversity, Language and Literacy

Course structure

Early Years Teaching Specialisations

Select one of the following three specialisations:

Promoting Equity, Social Justice and Inclusivity

EAA301Personalising Learning: a Transdisciplinary Approach

Arts Education

ECE340Creative Learning Through the Arts

Aboriginal Knowledge and Experiences

IND201Aboriginal Knowledges and Experiences: Historical Journeys-Contemporary Perspectives

Course structure

Year 2

ECE212Curriculum 3: Planning and Assessment for Teaching and Learning

ECP227Professional Practice 1 (3-5 Years)

ECE220Science 1: Science and Environmental Awareness for Young Children

ECE230Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood

ECE211Mathematical Learning in the Early Years

ECE241Creative Arts 2: Music and Visual Arts

ECP228Professional Practice 2 (3-5 Years)

1 credit point from early years teaching specialisation

Course structure

Year 4

ECE320Science 2: Science and Design Technology

ECE330Multiliterate Learners in Early Years and School Environments

ECE455Effective Primary Mathematics Learning

ECP327Professional Engagement 1 (Primary School 1)

ECP427Professional Engagement 2 (Primary School 2)

EEO320Humanities Education Across the Primary Levels

2 credit points from primary teaching specialisation

Course structure

Year 3

ECE312Lifespan Development

ECE360Protective Education and Child Well-Being

ECE370Guiding Engaged, Resilient Learners

ECE491Perspectives of Management and Leadership

ECE404Inclusive Education for Young Children (commences 2018)

ECP410Professional Teaching Practice and Child Study (0-3 Years)

ECE420Supporting Children Making Transitions

ECE430Teacher as Researcher


Professional Experience Placement

Students are required to apply for a Working with Children Check. Apply online as a volunteer at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/.

For further information contact the School of Education, Professional Experience office.

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Other learning experiences

There will be opportunities throughout the course for students to engage with educational or industry  professionals. These experiences will be integrated into units where students will have early childhood directors, principals, inclusive education providers and Department of Human Services workers provide content to more closely connect the learning experience with industry practices.